Ten Top Tips

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Ten Top Tips

• Preparing for GCSEs

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Top Tip 1

• Climate for Learning
• Removing the Barriers

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Learning environmentHabitual or learned behaviour
www.ucc.vt.educ/studysk/studydis.html
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The perfect learning environment
Quiet, comfortable, warm room
Well ventilated
No clutter
Comfortable chair
Well lit
Spacious desk
No interruptions
Books and files to hand
No distractions - TV, music, e mail, phone
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Other factors

• Regular routine
• Agreed timescale
• Physical exercise / relaxation / social life
• Normal pattern of sleep
• Avoid caffeine / chilli not withdrawal
• Healthy eating / water
• Employment Law (from www.qca.org.uk)
• i) Not before 7am or after 7pm
• ii) Recommended no more than 8 hours in any
  shift
• iii) Not more than 8 hours per week
• iv) Can have a detrimental effect to exams

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• Top Tip 2
• Organisation and Timetable

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Timetable

• Revision Timetable Invest time in making a
  revision timetable or wall chart which specifies
  which revision per evening/day
• Know what they need to revise for each subject
  you need a list of topics
• Ensure that other commitments are highlighted
  worked around
• Plan breaks social time
• Ensure that the exams/time place are shown
• Display a copy in your kitchen or communal area
  as well as the place where your son/daughter
  studies
• Use ticks to indicate jobs done

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Organisation

• Work space equipment
• Remove distractions
• The right equipment
• Box with pens/paper/hole punch/ highlighters/
  equipment
• File for revision notes/dividers
• Box of plain postcards
• Revision Guides

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Top Tip 3

• Resources
• Internet and Websites

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Why use the internet to revise?

• Updated
• Interesting/eye-catching/motivating
• Visual/auditory learners
• Break up traditional methods
• Personalised revision plans
• Links to exam specifications

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What types of resources are effective?

• Past papers
• Revision Topics
• Summary checklists
• Tests/ Question and answers
• Revision tips/ideas

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Practical revision

• Plan short blocks of revision and review
• Check what needs to be revised
• Bookmark favourite websites
• Write out notes/mind maps
• www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/
• www.samlearning.com BS27KO
• Supplement not replace!

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Top Tip 4

• SAM Learning
• Past Papers

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SAM Learning?

• SAM Self Assessment Method
• 750,000 students will use SAM Learning this year
• Second most hit site UK web site during last
  May
• Used by more than half of all English state
  secondary schools

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SAM Learning at Kings

• After 1 month, students have already put in 700
  hours of revision and exam practice.
• Revision exercises for reinforcing basics
• Exam practice with answers.
• Link from www.kowessex.co.uk
• CentreID BS27KO
• Userid DDMMYYAB
• Password DDMMYYAB

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Exam Boards

• www.aqa.org.uk
• www.ocr.org.uk
• www.edexcel.org.uk

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Top Tip 5

• Revision Guides

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The Kings of Wessex GCSE Revision Guides
English Oxford Revising AQA GCSE English (Peter Buckroyd) Oxford Revising AQA English Literature (Peter Buckroyd) Recommend Collins Oxford Total Revision Guide.
Mathematics CGP GCSE Mathematics - available to purchase from the Department
Science 2 Lonsdale AQA Science Revision Guides  one for tested Modules, one for terminal exam
Geography CGP GCSE Geography - available to purchase from the Department.
History Collins Total Revision by Chris Cuplin
TECHNOLOGY Resistant Materials Food Technology Graphic Products Child Development Recommend Lonsdale DT Revision Guide Collins Total Revision Guide in-house Revision Guide Collins Total Revision Guide Collins Total Revision Guide in-house Revision Guide
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Top Tip 6

• Memory
• Mind Mapping

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Left Brain

• The left side of the brain controls
• Verbal ability
• Attention to detail
• Reasoning
• Left brained people are good at
• Communication
• Persuading others
• Maths
• Logic
• Your left brain prefers reading, quiet and dogs

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Right Brain

• The right side of the brain controls
• Creativity
• Flexibility
• Right brained people are
• Daring
• Intuitive
• Creative with writing and art
• Your right brain prefers day-dreaming, philosophy
  and sports.

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Top Tip 7

• Memory
• Note Taking

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Top Tip 8

• Study Buddying

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Study Buddying

• Working with your child
• Explanation, question and answer
• Be the student
• Testing
• Revising with friends
• Ensure the focus is on studying
• Keep promises to one another
• Arrange to have breaks together at particular
  times
• Act as tutors for each other
• Ensure the arrangement is equal and beneficial
• Regular rewards for working well are worthwhile

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Top Tip 9

• The Day of the Exam

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The Day of the Exam
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Before the exam

• Know the exam timetable KingsNET
• KingsWEB gtgt Exam Info Timetable
• gtgt Combined Summer
  Schedule 2007

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Ensure that your son/daughter

• Knows where to be each day
• Knows the start time for each exam
• Gets there early allows contingency time!
• Allows time for brain to wake up-shower!
• Eats breakfast or takes energy rich food
• Attends the Exam Briefing

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Be practical!

• Encourage a normal routine for exams
• Going to bed and getting up at sensible times

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Be practical!

• Check your child has all the correct equipment -
  including spares
• Plus any notes or books allowed in the exam in
  the correct format
• Remind them to use the toilet beforehand!
• Bring water to exam and sip throughout

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Calming influence

• Keep anxieties at bay. Be reassuring.
• Youve done the best you can!
• Remind them of strategies to keep calm
• Itll all be over by three! Itll be fine
• Shelve issues that are not of immediate
  importance!
• Dont insist on lengthy post mortems

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Just before the exam

• Last minute revision?
• Do whats right for you
• A moment to yourself

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During the exam

• Nervousness is normal extra adrenaline!
• Deep breaths I can handle this!
• Read the instructions AND then through the WHOLE
  PAPER before picking up pen
• Write down key formulae, facts, quotes

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During the exam

• Mark the questions you will answer
• Stick to the time-scale for each question
• Answer the questions you are most confident about
  first
• Allow a few minutes checking time at the end

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Dont make this mistake!
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Top Tip 10

• What the research says?

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• How long should I revise for?

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How often should I revise?
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How should I revise?
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Research shows that you remember the most when

• You revise in short sessions with short breaks in
  between
• You revisit your revision a number of times over
  a period of time
• You practice the tasks that you will be required
  to do in your exam